Sharon Kay Hinds
Sharon K. Hinds 71, passed away peacefully in the arms of our Lord at 3:00 am Friday, September 26, 2014 at her home in West Plains, Missouri, surrounded by her family. She was born August 9, 1943 in Poughkeepsie, Arkansas to Jimmy and Louise Crafton.
After graduating from West Memphis High School, West Memphis, Arkansas in 1961, Sharon attended Freed-Hardeman College in Henderson, Tennessee where she received her Business degree. She worked in Memphis as a legal typist and bookkeeper while she earned her court reporting certification. Sharon was co-owner and an officer of Alpha Court Reporting Corporation in Memphis until 1991, when she retired and sold her business interest to her partner. Some of her favorite stories about her court room experiences involved her time in the renowned Judge Joe Brown’s court.
She married Greg Hinds on January 9, 1991 and relocated to Pinewood–Sour Lake, Texas. They bought their retirement home in West Plains and were in the process of permanently moving when Mrs. Hinds became ill. At her request, her family brought her home for her final days after treatment at M. D. Anderson in Houston, Texas.
She was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ. She and her husband Greg were generous patrons of her favorite charity, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.
She is survived by her husband Greg, her sister, Olivia Zinn and husband Jim of West Plains, her nephew David LaFevers of Columbia, Missouri, his son Payton of West Plains, and many Arkansas and Tennessee aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jimmy and Louise Crafton of Strawberry, Arkansas, Maternal grandparents, James and Cora Smith, Poughkeepsie, Arkansas, Paternal grandparents, Elvie and Effie Crafton, Strawberry, Arkansas, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
In her spare time she enjoyed golf, sewing, all kinds of crafts, painting, and her online card design club group. She was funny, creative and a true friend who cherished every friendship she ever had. Sharon was admired, respected, and trusted by her family, friends, employees, and business associates. Sharon was a tender hearted, giving and generous caregiver for family, friends and her beloved pet Misty Bleu, her 3 pound Teacup Poodle. Her smile lit up her whole face and she never met a stranger. One friend wrote “She will indeed be a beautiful angel … she has had a lifetime of practice caring for others.” She will be remembered as a devoted wife, beloved sister, and true friend. Her memory will live on forever in the hearts of those of us who loved her.
A memorial celebration of her life will be planned for a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 W. Main St., West Plains, MO 65775 .
Jim Zinn
September 29, 2014 @ 6:44 pm
The biggest smile, the warmest heart, the kindest soul I have ever known.
Olivia Zinn
September 29, 2014 @ 7:30 pm
We choose our friends, but only God chooses your sister. I was so blessed with this precious woman for my “little sister”. My life will never be the same without her, but I know she will be watching over me until we meet again as we are promised by the God we both trusted all our lives.
Ed Crafton
September 29, 2014 @ 7:39 pm
We’ve loved Sharon as far back as we can remember, and will miss her the rest of our lives. May God bless , keep and comfort her family through this time of sorrow.
Ronnie Lewis
September 29, 2014 @ 8:14 pm
There aren’t sufficient words to describe her. Loving, caring, kind, beautiful, intelligent. The light of my life and everyone that she came in contact with. She exemplified the way a life should be lived. Sharon Kay has been my friend since our youth, and I won’t ever forget her.
Mary Raynard
September 29, 2014 @ 11:12 pm
Beautiful tribute to a beautiful soul. A life well and fully lived, so many hearts touched. Thank you for sharing.
Molly grey
September 30, 2014 @ 12:29 am
I am so sorry to hear this. I had no idea she was sick. She was a precious person and will be missed. Prayers for the family
David LaFevers
September 30, 2014 @ 11:24 am
I wish that everyone could have someone so special touch their lives. My life has been so changed from her unconditional love that will never be replaced. I only ask that everyone who’s lives she touched to smile, and know that she truly loved each and everyone one of us.
Ben Wallis
September 30, 2014 @ 12:25 pm
I am so sorry. We always had such good times together. Wishing you all love and peace.
PrissynSheffield
September 30, 2014 @ 1:43 pm
I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with the family at this time.
DeeDee Davis
September 30, 2014 @ 4:58 pm
My thoughts and prayers are with this wonderful family. Sharon was a true angel and I will miss her having the ability to always make laugh.
Diane Bradley
September 30, 2014 @ 5:48 pm
Sharon was a true friend for over 40 years. Genuinely caring and compassionate. She laughed easily and often and just a joy to be with. I know she will be missed by everyone that knew her.
Duane Coleman
September 30, 2014 @ 8:32 pm
Sharon- My friend, one of the great influences in my life. She knew what mattered, she knew what didn’t. She knew how to laugh at herself, at life and at you without being hurtful. She had an opinion and didn’t mind sharing it. I respected that. I respected her. She leaves me with many wonderful memories, many laughs and more than a few tears. I will always hold her in my heart and I will always miss her.
Heartfelt sympathy and love to Greg, Olivia, Jim and David
Margaret Wallis Horstman
October 2, 2014 @ 9:52 am
Tiny waist – big heart and one of the sharpest mind and wit of anyone I’v ever known! Her beauty was seen in everybody who knew her and in her home that she artfully decorated with the intention of welcoming everyone into– even in the middle of floods and hurricanes! I can’t get this lump out of my throat ever since I heard this shocking news. May God carry her family through till that glorious day of reconciliation when we will all be together again forever!!
Julia Baker Bell
October 2, 2014 @ 10:39 am
I met Sharon when I worked in a downtown law firm as a secretary in 1980. Sharon quickly became my mentor and my dear friend. While we didn’t get to talk often after Sharon married her soul mate, Greg, and moved to Texas – when we did talk we would pick up as if no time at all had passed. Sharon was one of those special people who never met a stranger and made everyone feel important to her. My new husband and I visited Sharon and Greg in Texas in 94 or 95 and had the most wonderful time with them and their dogs. I know how Sharon always had a positive attitude – even back in the mid 80’s when she was faced with a serious surgery and had been told there was little hope of a good outcome….prayers and faith overcame and she was restored to health. I thought of Sharon and Greg often over the years and only a week ago I was thinking about her and googling to see if they still lived in Sour Lake and intended to try to contact her again. My husband and I had moved and we cut our land line so she had no way to find me. Maybe she knew I had her in my thoughts? I hope so. Greg – I will think of you and Sharon again when I make my ANNUAL Cincinnati Chili at Christmas…from the recipe you shared with me when you and Sharon invited me for dinner on a 12/23 many many years ago when you were still courting…(you know – that short courtship) .
God’s peace to the family. Sharon is in the arms of the angels.
Michelle Guzman
October 2, 2014 @ 11:42 am
We are so sorry to hear about Sharon. She was such a wonderful person and a true friend.
Even though we only met a few times in person, I felt like I have known her forever. I am going to miss our long phone converstions we would have every few months. Although
no words can really help to ease the loss you bear, please know that You, Olivia and Jim
are in our thoughts and prayers.
Margaret Barker
October 6, 2014 @ 9:25 am
So sorry for your loss. Sending prayers for the family.
Maggie and George Atkinson
October 6, 2014 @ 5:21 pm
We only knew you for a few minutes in our time together on this time around. I so wish we could have had a longer time together.We moved next door to all of you in April Sound Montgomery Tx. We pray for you and your family. We know we will see you again. Thank you Oliva and Jim for your kindness in our time of transition.
Glyndene and Bobby Deaton
October 7, 2014 @ 7:51 pm
Our love and prayers are being sent to all of you as you go through these times. We are remembering so many fun and wonderful visits we had growing up. Sharon always had a smile and was a lot of fun. These are memories we will treasure forever.
June Bullwinkel
October 13, 2014 @ 10:16 am
I never met Sharon in person. We met through a small group of friends that made stationery. We called this group SAG (stationery addiction group). After many years the group broke up but Sharon and I kept up the internet friendship. I am so sorry to learn of her passing. I will keep her and the family in my prayers. I will miss her e-mails.
Sandy Martin
October 14, 2014 @ 8:31 am
I just received this today. I too never met Sharon but was with the same stationary group. I had many, many phone conversations with Sharon at one point. After the group broke up, I didn’t hear from her. She helped with get thro a few difficult times. Always cheerful, always optimistic. I am sure you will miss her Greg. Perhaps she mentioned “Sandy from Canada?”
Greg Hinds
November 5, 2014 @ 2:53 pm
Thank you all for your kind messages about Sharon. So many of you and others have told me “I can only imagine what you’re going through,” but with all due respect, you can’t. Losing Sharon has been the emotional equivalent of having a tooth pulled without benefit of anesthetic. The sheer agony of her passing has subsided now to a persistent dull roar but an hour doesn’t go by that I don’t think of her. There is not, and cannot be another like her. She was truly a unique person and aren’t we all the lucky ones to have known her. I was luckier than almost all of you though. God let me share 23 years of our lives with her. We will have a memorial service for her in April – we’re trying to get it to coincide with the annual Crafton family reunion which should be in a location that everyone who was part of Sharon’s life can participate. May God bless you all for your kind thoughts and prayers.